23909: Shock Waves in 29 Countries: Leveraging Personal & Societal Resources to Address Cumulative Shocks (session 26229)

Cumulative shocks, i.e., exposure to multiple shocks across various domains, pose cognitive demands on individuals. According to Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, these shocks can deplete or conserve cognitive resources. We propose that responses to cognitive demands depend on individual cognitive capabilities. Our study investigates the direct and moderating effects of personal and societal-level cognitive resources on well-being, career satisfaction, and career change intentions—key outcomes for individuals and organizations facing cumulative shocks. We examine personal cognitive resources (career optimism, pessimism, and resilience) alongside societal-level cognitive resources (charismatic/values-based and team-oriented leadership), which can aid in coping with cumulative career shocks. Analyzing data from 7,321 individuals across 29 countries, our results largely support the significant role of cognitive resources, particularly personal cognitive resources. We identify the need to balance career optimism and pessimism and reveal that team-oriented leadership may heighten the negative relationship between cumulative shocks and well-being, perhaps showing the dark side of focusing cognitive resources on the team when change is pushing people to think more about their individual situations. This study extends COR theory and enhances understanding of how diverse cognitive resources that either dampen or exacerbate the relationship between shocks with individual outcomes.

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